I do not use Twitter, Foursquare or any location-based service. Though I do believe that Facebook and Twitter can be useful for businesses and high-profile individuals to push out certain info, I don't think it's necessary for me -- Laura Q. Public -- to share every moment of my life with the World (Wide Web). If I wanted eveyone to know where I am I'd get a GPS implanted in my brain! Or become a politician.

With Facebook's "Places", people now have the ability to "Tag" their friends when they get together at real life places IN REAL TIME -- all without asking their permission first! Foursquare also pushes out your location IN REAL TIME. They even offer incentives for you to 'fess up your actual location, by making you "Mayor" of your location if you check in enough times.

So, to all my current and future friends, colleagues and family on Facebook, Foursquare, MySpace, Twitter or any other social networking site, please note the following:

You DO NOT have my permission to broadcast my location, or tag me in a photo or video.

If you come to visit me at my home, you DO NOT have my permission to broadcast my home address, street, neighborhood or even city. You DO NOT have my permission to even mention that you're visiting me. This is no one's business but yours and mine. This is the same if I come to visit YOU.

If we're out socially, you DO NOT have my permission to mention that I am with you or your group.

If you've taken a group photo or video and I happen to be in it, you DO NOT have my permission to "Tag" me. If I'm clearly visible in a photo, e.g. with only a couple of people, ASK ME FIRST before posting it. Even if you don't identify me, anyone can easily figure out who's who by looking at your "Friends" list. Depending on the photo, location, event, etc., I may ask you to blacken me out, or I may possibly allow you to include my FIRST NAME ONLY in the caption -- but NOT A TAG under ANY circumstances.

Here's a real-life example:

I was tagged in a high school reunion pic -- a mash-up I created from two group photos to include everyone there -- and e-mailed it to the people who attended the event as a souvenir. Someone posted it to their Facebook page, tagging everyone in the photo who's on Facebook. I immediately removed the tag and e-mailed this person and told him to blacken me out from the pic, and not to include my name. Not long after, somebody posted in the "Photo Comments" section "Who's blacked out?" I happened to be online at the time, so I e-mailed this person and told her I asked to be blacked out for privacy reasons. I also told her not to post it was me. Doesn't common sense tell you that if someone's blacked out in a pic it's because they don't want to be identified??!!

And why should you have to UNTAG yourself? You should be asked BEFORE for your permission!

So folks, please, take heed... For your own safety and privacy, nobody but YOU has the right to post your personal information online, e.g. your location, or photos and videos that identify you -- unless you've given your express permission. Allowing others to take your photo or include you in a video IS NOT IMPLIED CONSENT for them to post it publicly.

It's no one's business who your friends are, or whom you associate with.

It's no one's business where you go, or what you do.

It's no one's business where you live, or who you dine with, entertain, etc.

It's YOUR CHOICE and ONLY YOUR CHOICE to disclose your personal information.

And to those of you posting other people's personal info, photos or videos...

Just because your friends and family let you take their photo or go somewhere with you doesn't give you the right to post it -- unless they've consented to it. Once again, allowing your photo to be taken and attending some place with others IS NOT implied consent to allow you to post it publicly!!! Though YOU may not care about your own privacy, there are others that care very much about their personal privacy.

Before the popularity of social media nobody worried about friends and family taking their picture, because the photo only appeared in personal photo albums. Now that people's "personal photo albums" and "home videos" are ONLINE, the rules have changed.

ALWAYS ask for permission before posting photos or videos with others in it. And, if anyone in the photo does not want to be identified, BLACKEN THEM OUT. If it's a video and you can't edit them out, DON'T POST IT. Use common sense and ALWAYS err on the side of caution.

AND NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, EVER POST PHOTOS OR VIDEOS OF SOMEONE ELSE'S CHILDREN!!! If you want to post photos of YOUR OWN children that's your business, but you should seriously consider the safety of your kids before doing so. There are too many dangerous and crazy people out there. The InterWebs are a pedophile's and stalker's dream-come-true.

E-mailing the folks or grandma and grandpa a pic or video of your cute-as-a-button children? Well, guess what? They're so proud, they're going to forward it to all of their friends. "Look at my grandkids! Aren't they adorable?" And those people are going to forward it to all of THEIR friends. "Look at my friend's grandkids! Aren't they adorable?" And someone, someWHERE in the chain, IS going to post it publicly because your kids are just so gosh-darn cute-as-a-button, ya know?

Stop Tweeting and Foursquaring where you are and what you're doing -- this info is pushed out IN REAL TIME. Nobody needs to know where you are IN REAL TIME, and when your home IS VACANT. Do you want to get robbed? Do you want some crazy person or stalker to know EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE?!! And WHEN?

AND RIGHT NOW, I WANT YOU TO GO TO YOUR SOCIAL NETWORKING PAGES AND "UNFRIEND" YOUR EX-BOYFRIEND(S), EX-GIRLFRIEND(S) OR EX-SPOUSE(S)!!! If you seriously feel the need to know what your ex is doing -- LIVE AND IN REAL TIME -- then YOU'RE A STALKER, TOO.

If you're thinking about e-mailing your spouse, significant other or current boyfriend or girlfriend a nude or semi-nude photo of yourself, thinking "He/she won't show it to anyone and he/she certainly won't post it because he/she loves me and respects me," -- well, guess what? You're an idiot.

But it's not just exes, stalkers, looneys or pedophiles you have to worry about. Whether you like it or not, your employer or potential employer, and other people (e.g. your religious leader, relatives, landlord, business associates, etc.) ARE checking up on you. "Google is your friend", right? Well, Google can be your ENEMY, too.

EXAMPLE: While you may think it's harmless at the time to post a photo of you and your friends at a Hookah bar, your EMPLOYER probably won't care to hear that "it's really only flavored, fruity tobacco". So unless you're from a culture where smoking Hookah is customary, DON'T POST IT. Remember, once it's "out there", it's out there FOREVER.

So, to my family members and current and future friends and colleagues, thank you in advance for respecting my privacy. But please take note... If you DON'T then I will UNFRIEND you. Not only on Facebook, but in REAL LIFE!